Dean Karnazes

Dean Karnazes: Looks mean doesn't he? Not true. Voted great guy by PatitucciPhoto

Calves of Karnazes

Dean Karnazes Ultramarathon Man

I remember seeing Dean Karnazes for the first time. It was at the Rucky Chucky river crossing during the Western States 100 Mile Race. He stuck in my memory because he was the only guy who came through looking like he had just started. Or maybe it was the calves. Or, maybe it was the smile and cheery nature which he always seems to have, whether it be at mile 3 or mile 300. The guy can run. And he can motivate others to run.
These are the traits I like about Dean. He has an energy that fuels others, whether it be meeting him in person, running alongside him, reading his international best selling book Ultramarathon Man, or watching him on Letterman. Dean looks like he could be your pal. The reality is, he can be. He’s that kind of guy.

Dean Karnazes in California, 2004

As a standalone piece, Dean’s personal resume reads like a bestseller. 50 marathons in 50 days in all 50 US States. 350 miles in one go… A TIME Magazine poll declared Dean in the “Top 100 Most Influential People in the World”. All of this yet still I have seen Dean criticized from some within the running community. A minority believes he isn’t what he is made out to be. The arguments… If he is so great, why hasn’t he won more races? And why all the hype? Why the attention and money that goes along with it? Real trail runners don’t seek media attention, they seek the experience and the joy of running.

These comments have always irritated me. Never have I seen Dean claim to be anything other than a really psyched guy. That, as well as happy, motivated, and genuinely in love with running and helping others. Dean has done more to motivate people to try running than probably any other human. He has raised money for charity and he has made a lot of friends along the way. I don’t see Dean so focused on winning races, I see Dean wanting to enjoy races.

Janine and I are fortunate to call Dean a friend and to have spent a fair bit of time with him, both for photos and for fun. I recently asked him about how he felt hearing this criticism, his answer was very Dean.

“It used to depress me to read this stuff, but 99% of the comments I get are positive, so to hell with those who criticize others.  I just came off winning the 4 Deserts Championship (which TIME magazine called “The world’s toughest multiday endurance event”) and finishing runner-up at the Canadian Death Race, so I guess you’ll never please all of the people.”

And the charity figures he has raised? “I have raised over a million dollars for kids charities across the globe, including help to save the lives of three young children awaiting critical organ transplants.”

Getting to do what you love each and everyday, being healthy, happily married, a father, a responsible role model and contributing to both society and to targeted charities… I call this success.

Dean trying to converse with some Italian locals

In 2004 we did a mountain trail running endurance photoshoot for The North Face in Cortina d’Ampezzo, right in the heart of the Italian Dolomites. I vividly remember it was August 1st, and there was about 8 cm of fresh snow on the ground for a 4 a.m. departure at the car. It was a summer shoot and we were all bundled up in little more than shorts and long sleeve shirts. Luckily the sun came out, the skies turned blue and we could resume the action. Poor Dean was asked to wear some very Euro shorts, a bit tighter and shorter than he would have liked, but that would be a compliment to his calves. Dean, always in good spirits, obliged.

After this, we saw Dean several more times, once in California for a photoshoot for his book, and then several more times in Europe.
Dean Karnazes’s longtime partner in crime, and our mutual friend, Topher Gaylord, was living in the Italian Dolomites with his wife Kim. Dean would come over and join them for some long days trail running in the area around Cortina. I wanted to get Dean’s take on the Dolomites and to find out what one thing stood out as unique about his time running in the region. His response comes as no surprise.

Thanks to Dean for writing this up as he was recovering from his Chicago Double Marathon yesterday. I actually Twittered him while he was running to remind him about this piece being due, and he got right on it today – again, the kind of guy he is…

Dean Karnazes and Topher Gaylord trail running in the Dolomites

Dean on the Lagazoui's Hut deck, Viva Italia

“My good friend, Topher Gaylord, was living in Italy and managing The North Face European office.  He and his wife, Kim, had a little weekend pad in Cortina they’d dash up to almost every weekend.  Topher used to rave at how fantastic the trail running was in the Dolomites, about theses incredible hut-to-hut overnight runs he would do.
Now, I was a bit skeptical. Having raced and competed on all 7 of the earth’s continents, I had seen some remarkable places.  The thought of schlepping from one grungy hut to another, miserable and cold, didn’t sound all that appealing. I’d crashed in mountain huts before, and there was nothing glamorous about it.
What I learned on my eventual visit to the Dolomites is that the Italians use the word “hut” very loosely. After running through what turned out to be some of the most spectacular mountains I have ever seen, I wasn’t necessarily looking forward to a cold night on the floor of a hut, pouch of dehydrated food partially cooked, surrounded by other smelly hikers runners.  Wow…was I wrong.

The “hut” was more like a fully stocked palace!  The beds (yes, beds!) were warm and comfortable, and the food, prepared on-site by a top chef, was amazing!  I couldn’t believe my eyes.  How they possibly got all of this stuff to this remote mountain location was anyone’s guess.  Not that I cared!

We toasted our run with a glass of fine Italian wine as we watched the distant sunset from the 180 degree view from the patio of the hut.  In my wildest dreams, I never could have imagined such luxury.  All I can say is Viva Italia!

To learn more about Dean, be sure to visit his impressive site: Ultramarathon Man – better yet, read his book, it is fantastic.

Karnazes in the Dolomites near the Falzarego Pass

Dean Karnazes trail running in the Italian Dolomites

Dean Karnazes is also part of The North Face Endurance Team, more info can be found at The North Face